In big relief to former Telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran, a special court here discharged all accused in the Aircel-Maxis case on Thursday.

The Central Bureau of Investigation had alleged Dayanidhi Maran, as Minister in the UPA-I government, used his influence to help Malaysian businessman T.A. Ananda Krishnan buy Aircel by coercing its owner C Sivasankaran to part with his stake.

The court was hearing two different matters related to Aircel-Maxis deal lodged by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The CBI had alleged that Sivasankaran sold the stake under pressure from then Telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran, who stalled approvals it needed, and that Maxis, in return, invested in his brother Kalanithi Maran’s Sun Direct, the direct-to-home TV arm of his Sun TV Network Ltd.